The Makers Collaborative

A safe space isn't just a room—it's a culture. It's built slowly, with trust, empathy and intention.
Let’s keep the doors open. Let’s keep listening.

Hritoja , who’s with us this summer, cares deeply about mental well-being and creating spaces where people feel safe to be themselves. She worked as a safe space coordinator for her college initiative to support students, both, emotionally and socially. These sessions were meant to connect people—especially at a time when many, particularly Gen Z, are feeling more lonely and overwhelmed.

“I hosted sessions where students could open up about personal challenges, talk freely, and know they weren’t alone. I witnessed people crying, sharing their vulnerabilities, and supporting one another in beautiful, honest ways. The space became a way for students to express frustration, manage stress, and feel heard”, says Hritoja.

One of her last sessions focused on letting go and moving on, aimed at third-year students preparing to enter a new phase of life. “It was deeply moving to see their courage and vulnerability. These experiences taught me how powerful it is just to listen and hold space—and
I am grateful to have been part of building a small but strong community of support”, she concludes.

A list of resources that you can explore to initiate a safe space in your institution or community:
Training:
https://www.coursera.org/learn/psychological-first-aid?isNewUser=true {free}
https://www.mhfaindia.com/

Guides:
https://www.activeminds.org/
https://www.unicef.org/lac/en/adolescent-kit-for-the-development-resilience-through-expression-and-innovation

Introducing mini-zines at the media lab at Rabindranath World School . A form of alternative media in itself, students are going to use mini-zines as a stepping stone to create content for other traditional and non-traditional forms of media.

Ever wondered how abstract math concepts can translate into real-world applications?
Here is an activity for the above that we engage participants in to exercise creativity, both inside and beyond classrooms, using a few of our models!

Step 1. Put these models on the table without any labels or descriptions.

Step 2. Guess & Discuss: What do you think these models represent? Engage in discussions.

Step 2. Hints & Imagination: Get hints and clues from us and let your imagination run wild.

Step 2. Concrete Applications: Envision real-world uses. Science, art, daily life—where could these models fit?

Step 4. Create & Share: Sketch or describe your ideas. Share.

It's all about exploration. There are no right or wrong answers—just endless possibilities.

The Thinking Process is to go from concrete natural phenomena by observing the Natural or Man-made Environment and extracting the essential elements to form Abstract Mathematical Concepts and then to see how it can be transferred to different Concrete Applications. You can do this too!

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